Printing machine



l. L. YOUNG PRINTING MACHINE Ocvt. 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed, Dec. 2, 1958 INVENTOR 90% BY L/AFLL, (JJ-mens ATTORNEY oct. 23, 1962 l. L. YOUNG 3,059,572

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY L/HSLL, :FLOUQS ATTORNEY 3,059,572 Q i Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,572 PRllNlllNG MACE Irvin L. Young, Young Engineering Corp., Palmyra, Wis. Filed Dec. 2, 1953, Ser. No. 777,782 Claims. (Cl. 10i-37) This invention relates to the printing of molded pulp cartons, and more particularly to methods and devices for imprinting the surface of the tops and/or sides of molded pulp cartons having the typical relatively coarse surface by which molded pulp articles are characterized.

Prior to the instant invention, the printing of molded pulp surfaces and molded pulp carton tops and sides has been fraught with diliculties in that prior printing resulted in unevenness and relatively crude definition due to the characteristic coarse surface of molded pulp cartons. In addition, prior to the instant invention the requirements that a single printing apparatus be utilized for the imprinting of different indicia on successive quantities of cartons has involved elaborate change-over procedure which has met with excessive costs.

It is an object of the instant invention to teach `a novel method and arrangement for practical, rapid and economical printing of neat and even insignia and messages on molded pulp cartons.

it is another object of the instant invention to teach a novel method and to provide novel apparatus which economically permits particular and quick changeover from one marking or indicia, or both, to another marking or indicia or both on successive batches of molded pulp cartons as they are continuously produced on typical molded pulp carton production apparatus.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

IFIG. 1 is a View in elevation, with portions removed, of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to PIG. 1, but in elevation, and without such portions removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view similar to the lower portion of FIG. 2, but illustrating a modilication thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a pair of main frame members ylil which form a base, and each of the main frame members itl includes a lower portion 11 from which extends a pair of arms 12. The inner sides 13 of the arms 12 are provided with grooved tracks 14.

Secured to the outer ends of the arms 12 are four inverted U-shaped top yoke members 15. The tops of these four yoke members 15 are connected together by a transverse bar 16, which on its upper surface supports a hydraulic cylinder 17 within which is mounted a piston 18 adapted to be controlled and moved by a hydraulic fluid, such as air. For this purpose the cylinder 17 is provided at its opposite end with a pair of ports 19 and 20.

Connected to the piston 18 is a piston rod 21 which extends through VaV stuiiing box 22 mounted on the cylinder 17. The piston rod 21 extends in slidable relation through a screw-nut-like-bushing 23 fastened to a housing 24, which houses a flexible transmission spring member 25 secured to the piston rod 21. The housing member 24 also houses a stop nut 25, the function of which will later be described. l

Fastened to the lower portion of the housing 24 is a cross bar 27 which in turn is fastened to a pair of base plates 28 mounted slidably on the grooved tracks 14. A pin 29 extending transversely between the U-shaped yoke members 15 supports a rod 30 to which the stop nut 26 is threaded, thereby providing an adjustment to control the limited slidable motion of the base plates 28 with relation to the yoke members 15. A pair of elongated tongues 31 on each of the two sides 13 of each of the base plates 28 provide for the slidable cooperation of said base plates 23 with the grooved tracks 14 in the arms l2.

Mounted on and between the base plates 28 is an inkpot 32 provided with a dispensing roller 33 which cooperates with an oscillating pickup roller 34, which in turn is mounted on an oscillating arm 3S adapted to oscillate periodically and be moved to and fro by a timed mechanism (not shown). The pickup roller 34 transfers ink periodically from the dispensing roller 33 to a relatively iixed large roller 36 mounted on a shaft journalled in the plates 28 at either end. The roller 36 rotates in tangential contact with a pair of small rollers 37 which in turn cooperate with another roller 38, which in turn cooperates with a pair of small rollers 39 from which the ink or marking medium is transferred to a printing cylinder 40 having mounted thereon an arcuate printing plate or plates 41. In this manner the ink is fed at a uniform rate and it is evenly distributed across the printing plate or plates 41.

A plurality of molded pulp cartons 42 are carried individually on carton supporting elements 43 mounted at intervals along a conveyor chain 44. At the time of printing or marking of each carton 42 being advanced into contact with the underside of the printing cylinder 40, the element 43 is backed up by a pair of flanged rollers 45 mounted therebeneath, so that thrusts may be withstood from two directions at angles to each other, and in this way, for example, downward thrusts and side thrusts will be properly withstood, and the cartons will be printed evenly and neatly, as well as rapidly.

The train of rollers 36, 37, 38 and 39, as well as the printing cylinders 40 may be driven by a train of gears as illustrated, and the cylinder 40 may be specially mounted so that it can be rapidly removed `from the apparatus, particularly 4at times when it is required that new indicia or marking be applied to the cartons being continuously produced, so that successive batches of cartons may be marked with different indicia, emblems, or other information.

The printing cylinder 40 may be slidably keyed and/or clamped to a shaft 46 journalled in a bearing 47, which is pinned, as by pin 48, `to one of the slidable base plates 28. The end of the pin 43 is provided with a protruding head 49 so that it may be grasped readily for removal of the cylinder 4l).

In operation, the conveyor 43, which continuously serves to bring cartons to be printed to the printing apparatus, carries the individual cartons in timed sequence, controlled by a mechanism (not shown) beneath the rotating printing cylinder 40, which is in position to effectuate the printing neatly, evenly and rapidly on the molded pulp carton surfaces. The printing members described are held in position by the slidably movable base plates 28, which in turn are held under pressure by the hydraulic piston 1S and cylinder 17 arrangement, in which the hydraulic fluid may be air or other suitable medium. The limitation of movement of the slidable base plates 28 is controlled by the positioning of the stop nut 26 as shown land described. In order to compensate for any unevenness of thickness of the walls of the molded pulp cartons, or like or similar considerations, the flexible transmission spring 25, which may be a spring as illustrated, or a compressible Huid such as air, for example, is incorporated as shown and described. y

Having regard for the requirements that successive batches of the molded pulp cartons be printed differently from each other, in accordance with the instant invention not only is there provided devices for positioning cartons properly in relation to properly positioned printing cylinders, and for the absorbing of thrust in different directions as described, but provision has been made for practically and quickly changing printing rollers. This is accomplished by the removal of the pin 48 in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft 46 and the subsequent removal of the cylinder 48 in an axial direction, whereupon a new printing cylinder may be installed in place thereof, which new printing cylinder may bear the required new indicia. Changing of the printing cylinder 40 is facilitated by actuation of the piston 18 to elevate the base plates 28 and thereby raise the printing cylinder slightly above the advancing molded pulp cartons 42.

While the apparatus and method have been described for the imprinting of a single surface of a molded pulp carton, it is to be understood that it is in accordance with the instant invention to print more than one surface of a single carton with utilization of apparatus embodying the invention and in accordance with the process as taught herein. The apparatus units as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be so utilized and arranged as to print either or both sides of the cartons as well as tops of cartons, for example. In accordance with the invention, it is contemplated that the cartons on a single conveyor leading from molded pulp carton production apparatus may be printed on both sides as Well as on the top.

Referring specifically to the modification illustrated in FIG. 4, the conveyor 44 carries the carton supporting elements 43 slidably across a pair of L-shaped flange members 50 mounted on opposite sides of the conveyor chain 44 above the flanged rollers 45 and adapted to support the elements 43 against sidewise thrusts as they advance beneath the printing cylinder 40. The carton supporting elements 43 are also supported against downward thrust by the flanged rollers 45 as already described. In this way the molded pulp cartons are properly supported against multi-directional thrusts, so that the effective and neat printing is accomplished despite the characteristic coarse surface of molded pulp.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specication, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing machine for marking molded pulp articles being advanced in succession along a conveyor, comprising a frame positioned adjacent said conveyor, a support mounted vertically slidably on the frame in alignment with the path of the conveyor, a rotatable printing cylinder detachably mounted on the support in position to mark molded pulp articles being advanced therepast by the conveyor, a piston mounted vertically slidably on the frame and having a piston rod connected to the support for thrusting the printing cylinder vertically toward articles to be printed under controlled printing pressure and for moving said cylinder away from said articles to facilitate detachment of the cylinder from the support, a plurality of relatively fixed backup members mounted on the opposite sides of the conveyor, each of said members having a portion to receive downward thrust and a portion to receive sidewise thrust from the printing cylinder, a resilient connector joining the piston rod to the slidable support to provide compensation for any minor variations in thickness of the molded pulp articles being marked, an inkpot mounted on the support, a plurality of rollers mounted on the support in tangential contact with each other for evenly transferring ink from the inkpot to the printing cylinder, and adjustable means for limiting the sliding movement of the support.

2. The printing machine defined by claim 1 wherein the slidably mounted support comprises a pair of plates slidable along a plurality of vertical grooved tracks formed 0n the frame, the ink transfer rollers and the printing cylinder are mounted for rotation on a plurality of horizontal shafts extending transversely between said plates, and the shaft on which the printing cylinder is mounted is secured by a removable transversely extending pin for quick detachment of said cylinder.

3. A printing machine for marking molded pulp articles being advanced in succession along a conveyor, comprising a frame positioned adjacent said conveyor, a vertically slidable support mounted on the frame above and in alignment with the path of the conveyor, a rotatable printing cylinder detachably mounted on the support in position to mark molded pulp articles being advanced therepast by the conveyor, a piston mounted slidably on the frame and having a piston rod connected to the support for imparting vertical reciprocation thereto, whereby the printing cylinder may be thrust downwardly toward articles to be printed under controlled printing pressure and said cylinder may be elevated above said articles to facilitate detachment of the cylinder, said piston rod being resiliently connected to the slidable support by means of a confined spring to provide compensation for any minor variations in thickness of the molded pulp articles being marked, a plurality of relatively fixed backup rollers mounted on the underside of and on opposite sides of the conveyor for receiving thrusts from the printing cylinder, an inkpot mounted on the support, a plurality of rollers mounted on the support in tangential contact with each other for evenly transferring ink from the inkpot to the printing cylinder, and adjustable means for limiting the sliding movement of the support.

4. A printing machine for marking molded pulp articles being advanced in succession along a conveyor, comprising a frame positioned adjacent said conveyor, a vertically movable support mounted slidably on the frame in alignment with the path of the conveyor, a rotatable printing cylinder detachably mounted on the support in position to mark molded pulp articles being advanced therepast `by the conveyor, a piston mounted slidably on the frame and having a piston rod connected by a spring to the movable support for thrusting the printing cylinder into resilient contact with the articles to be printed and for moving said cylinder away from the articles to facilitate detachment of the cylinder from the support, a plurality of flanged backup wheels mounted rotatably on the frame on opposite sides of and beneath the conveyor opposite the printing cylinder to receive any downward and sidewise thrusts therefrom, an inkpot and a plurality of transfer rollers mounted on the support for evenly supplying ink to the printing cylinder, and adjustable means for limiting the vertical sliding movement of said support.

5. The printing machine of claim 4, further including a pair of flange members mounted on opposite sides of the conveyor above said anged wheels for cooperation therewith in receiving any sidewise thrusts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,390,343 Disbrow Sept. 13, 1921 1,840,071 Werner et al. Jan. 5, 1932 1,862,671 Field June 14, 1932 2,105,400 Booth Jan. 11, 1938 2,150,320 Edwards Mar. 14, 1939 2,205,720 Goebel et al June 25, 1940 2,267,380 Tyler Dec. 23, 1941 2,588,480 Burckhardt Mar. 11, 1952 2,641,998 Donald June 16, 1953 2,681,611 Jacobs June 22, 1954 2,761,379 Hirschey et al. Sept. 4, 1956 2,819,671 Porter et al. Ian. 14, 1958 2,825,278 SchWisoW Mar. 4, 1958 

